Microsoft Word 2003/2004

Using Bulleted Lists

With Word, you can make bulleted lists, numbered lists, or outlines. You can create bulleted lists using the Formatting toolbar, the Bullets and Numbering dialog box, or AutoFormatting. For information on numbered lists, refer to Using Numbered Lists.

Using the Formatting Toolbar
Using the Bullets and Numbering Dialog Box
Using AutoFormatting
Working with Formatted Bullets

Using the Formatting Toolbar

This is an example of a bulleted list
When the text wraps, it does not wrap all the way to the bullet, but only to where the first line of text began
The BULLETS button acts like a toggle switch. Clicking once turns it on; clicking a second time turns it off
To change the bullet style or the indents, use the dialog box option

Applying Bullets as You Type

When you are ready to add bulleted text to your document, use the following steps:

Windows:

Place the insertion point where you want the bullets to begin
On the Formatting toolbar, click BULLETS
NOTE: Word inserts the first bullet and moves the insertion point a quarter inch to the right, where you can begin typing text.
Type the desired text
If the text wraps, Word maintains the quarter-inch indent.
Press [Enter]
Another bullet appears.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 as necessary
When finished typing the last line of bulleted text, press [Enter]
The insertion point should appear on a blank bulleted line.
To end the bulleted list, on the Formatting toolbar, click BULLETS
OR
To end the bulleted list, press [Enter]

Macintosh:

Place the insertion point where you want the bullets to begin
From the Formatting Palette, select Bullets and Numbering
NOTE: The arrow in the section points down when it is visible.
Click BULLETS
NOTE: Word inserts the first bullet and moves the insertion point a quarter inch to the right, where you can begin typing text.
Type the desired text
If the text wraps, Word maintains the quarter-inch indent.
Press [return]
Another bullet appears.
Repeat steps 4 and 5 as necessary
When finished typing the last line of bulleted text, press [return]
The insertion point should appear on a blank bulleted line.
To end the bulleted list, on the Formatting Palette, from the Bullets and Numbering section, click BULLETS
OR
To end the bulleted list, press [return]

Applying Bullets to Existing Text

Select the text to be bulleted
Windows: On the Formatting toolbar, click BULLETS
Macintosh: On the Formatting Palette, from the Bullets and Numbering section, click BULLETS
The selected text is bulleted.

To remove bullets:

Select the bulleted text
Windows: On the Formatting toolbar, click BULLETS
Macintosh: On the Formatting Palette, from the Bullets and Numbering section, click BULLETS
The bullets are removed.

Using the Bullets and Numbering Dialog Box

The Bullets and Numbering dialog box can be used to add or remove bullets and numbers, just as the Formatting buttons can. However, the dialog box gives you many more options in modifying bullets and the spacing around bullets. Also, the Bullets and Numbering dialog box gives you options to customize your bullets. For instructions, refer to Customizing Bulleted and Numbered Lists.
Bullets and Numbering dialog box

The following sections require you to access the Bullets and Numbering dialog box from the Format menu; however, you can also access the Bullets and Numbering dialog box by accessing the Quick menu.

To access the dialog box through the Quick menu:

Windows: Right click the area that has or will have bullets » select Bullets and Numbering...
Macintosh: Press [control] + click the area that has or will have bullets » select Bullets and Numbering...
The Bullets and Numbering dialog box appears.

Applying Bullets as You Type

This is an example of bulleted text
When the text wraps, it does not wrap all the way to the bullet, but only to where the first line of text began

Place the insertion point where you want the bullets to begin
From the Format menu, select Bullets and Numbering...
The Bullets and Numbering dialog box appears.
Select the Bulleted tab
Select the desired bullet style
Click OK
Type the desired text
If the text wraps, Word maintains the quarter-inch indent.
Windows: Press [Enter]
Macintosh: Press [return]
Another bullet appears.
Repeat steps 6 and 7 as necessary
Windows: When finished typing the last line of bulleted text, press [Enter]
Macintosh: When finished typing the last line of bulleted text, press [return]
The insertion point should appear on a blank bulleted line.
To end the bulleted list, from the Format menu, select Bullets and Numbering...
The Bullets and Numbering dialog box appears.
Select the Bulleted tab
Click NONE
Click OK

Applying Bullets to Existing Text

Select the text to be bulleted
From the Format menu, select Bullets and Numbering...
The Bullets and Numbering dialog box appears.
Select the Bulleted tab
Select the desired bullet style
Click OK
The selected text is bulleted.

To remove bullets:

Select the bulleted text
From the Format menu, select Bullets and Numbering...
The Bullets and Numbering dialog box appears.
Select the Bulleted tab
Click NONE
Click OK
The bullets are removed.

Using AutoFormatting

Bulleted lists can be created automatically as you type if you have those options selected in the AutoCorrect dialog box. If you have created a specific bullet style, you may want to turn this option off. For more information, refer to AutoCorrect: Automatic Formatting.

Working with Formatted Bullets

The paragraph character ¶ influences the formatting of the bullet of a list item. If one or more bullets has an undesired color, the paragraph character was included when the color formatting was applied.

Example of a formatted (red colored) bullet

To remove the formatting from the bullet only:

On the Standard toolbar, click SHOW/HIDE
The non-printing symbols are displayed.
Select the paragraph symbol for the list item with the formatted bullet
Windows: Using the Formatting toolbar buttons, remove the formatting
Macintosh: Using the Formatting Palette, remove the formatting